Toys
Etch-A-Sketch Clock Automatically Draws the Time
Posted by Sean Fallon at 11:30 AM on March 8, 2008
The Arduino platform has been the basis of some awesome projects in the past, but I have yet to see an application of the technology that is more fun than this Etch-a-Sketch clock. At the beginning of every minute, the device draws out the time in a matter of seconds and then erases it to start the process all over again the next minute. Fan freakin' tastic. [Make]

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ceilingFANBOY: now with 100% more fanboy
Posted 2:14 PM 8/3/08
@ceilingFANBOY: now with 100% more fanboy: ...or the numbers will just be really small. Neglected to factor in that both knobs would wear out.
ceilingFANBOY: now with 100% more fanboy
ceilingFANBOY: now with 100% more fanboy
Posted 2:14 PM 8/3/08
@mtfbmx: That was the first thing I thought.
I must say, I've never gotten an Etch-A-Sketch to erase that cleanly. Also, once the knobs start to where out, those numbers are going to start looking like someone viewing a widescreen program on a non-widescreen TV without letterboxing bars.
ceilingFANBOY: now with 100% more fanboy
fuzzylollipop
Posted 2:14 PM 8/3/08
this is real etch a sketch art
[www.gvetchedintime.com]
fuzzylollipop
remf3
Posted 2:14 PM 8/3/08
@strider_mt2k: I'm not going to actually watch that video and assume I know what it is based on the still frame. That smelled delicious!
I think that the whole sketch a clock is pretty cool. Definitely not practical as it looks huge, but I could see myself watching this all day. It would be more fun if the inventor could figure out a way for it to tic out "seconds". I'm sure due to the length of time it takes to write out the time, the actual number would be decreased by a few...
remf3
strider_mt2k
Posted 2:14 PM 8/3/08
@se7a7n7: You're right you know.
We've all had a good laugh here today, but I think it behooves us all to check our colons.
Because no colon: No piece of crap.
I think even a time-telling "Etch-A-Sketch" knows that.
And knowing is half the battle.
(NSFW)
+ Watch video
strider_mt2k
tanvach
Posted 2:14 PM 8/3/08
That's some awesome u-controller action right there. Although, I would guess that it's going way to loud to be practical though. Pong clock prevails.
tanvach
MagnoliaBoy
Posted 2:14 PM 8/3/08
It's like the 'Sketch is in a bondage chair...getting it's knobs twisted...
MagnoliaBoy
M.O.D.O.K.
Posted 2:14 PM 8/3/08
Nice! But why didn't the person start recording at 12:59 and then have it switch to 1:00. It would have been more dramatically different that way.
M.O.D.O.K.
AndyMac
Posted 2:14 PM 8/3/08
Some people have too much "time" on their hands.
AndyMac
Soundman1402
Posted 2:14 PM 8/3/08
Looks like something Doc Brown would have next to his automatic dog-feeder.
Soundman1402
lafond66
Posted 2:14 PM 8/3/08
heh, I want to see this draw me a mona lisa or something. How cares about the time, leave that to crazy LEDs.
lafond66
pdok
Posted 2:14 PM 8/3/08
I'll bet if you overclock this (yes, double pun intended), you could watch actual video clips at 2 frames/minute.
pdok
tetrion
Posted 2:14 PM 8/3/08
Just because something can be done, doesn't mean it should be... meh!
tetrion
mtfbmx
Posted 2:14 PM 8/3/08
I like the tiny Frink
mtfbmx
se7a7n7
Posted 2:14 PM 8/3/08
no colon ":"?
what a piece of crap
se7a7n7
zymase
Posted 3:29 PM 8/3/08
I love it! I'll take 100,000!
zymase
CaptRavis
Posted 5:49 PM 8/3/08
Remove the etch-a-sketch, and set it up as a grade school bully torture device. Double purple-nurples every minute.
CaptRavis
NFlames
Posted 3:53 AM 9/3/08
That's a sweet-ass Casio being used to prove the time...
NFlames
huygir
Posted 3:53 AM 9/3/08
Awful. It takes 30 seconds to draw the time every 60 seconds... that means when I glance over to see the time there's 50% of the "time" that I cannot get the info I need. Man, I'm on a deadline here - I need performance!
huygir
Bzzzy
Posted 8:57 AM 9/3/08
If my power blinks does it constantly draw 12 00?
Bzzzy
ry_ry
Posted 10:13 AM 9/3/08
That's sweet! Especially because drawing on those things was always frickin hard (impossible).
ry_ry